AUSTRALIAN FAUNA & FLORA –

First Edition.

• 36 p. : ill. ; 25 cm. #021126
• Australia is home to several medically significant arachnids and related venomous or irritating arthropods (often referred to in scientific and historical texts like R.V. Southcott’s reference book.
• Medically Significant Spiders

  • Sydney Funnel-Web Spider (Atrax robustus): Considered the deadliest spider in Australia. Its venom contains a powerful neurotoxin that affects the nervous system. Only the male Sydney funnel-web has caused human fatalities historically. An effective antivenom was introduced in 1981, and no deaths have occurred from funnel-webs since. [1, 2, 3]

  • Other Funnel-Web Spiders: Out of roughly 40 species of funnel-webs across Australia, about 6 can cause severe envenomation. [1]

  • Redback Spider (Latrodectus hasselti): Found Australia-wide in dry, sheltered areas (such as under logs, bricks, or outdoor dunnies). Female bites deliver latrotoxin causing severe local pain, sweating, nausea, and headache. Antivenom is available, and there have been no recorded deaths since antivenom was introduced in 1956. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

  • Mouse Spiders (Missulena species): Possess venom structurally and pharmacologically similar to funnel-web venom, capable of causing severe symptoms, though they rarely bite humans.
  • “Allies” and Other Injurious Arthropods

    Arachnids belong to the class Arachnida, and field guides traditionally group them with related venomous or irritating land arthropods (myriapods and small parasites):